Drawer suspension



c. F. WOLTERS vE'Hu. 2,331,529

DRAWER SUSPENSION Filed March 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l oct., l2, 1943.

N QM mm mm S Q mh mm Patented Oct. 12, 1943 DRAWER SUSPENSION Carl F. Wolters and Niels Yde Andersen, 'Kenmore, N. Y., assgnors to Remington Rand Inc.,

Buffalo, N. Y.

Application March 8, 1941, ,Serial No. 382,428

6 Claims.

This invention relates to 4improvements lin drawer suspensions.

The invention provides. a drawer suspension designed for manufacture from sheet metal at a low cost and to incorporate into the construction wearing qualities that substantially increase the life of the drawer suspension in comparison with previous types of drawer suspensions.

The invention provides a drawer suspension in which the drawer tracks are mounted for overtravel in connection with the intermediate carrying means and at the same` time are constructed for having the intermediate carrying means operate in an `intermittent progressive manner in the movement of the drawer carried thereby between open and closed positions for obtaining cooperation to reduce wear.

The invention provides a detent for cooperation with the drawer and intermediate tracks for moving the intermediate carrying means `outwardly with the drawer track in the outward movement of the drawer from the casing, in order to secure a smoother operation of the drawer and drawer suspension with a reduction of wear and the operation of the drawer with a minimum of eort. v v

The invention provides a drawer suspension in which the casing and intermediate tracks are formed to have their major structuralxportions of substantially duplicate shape in cross section so that bearing members for supporting rollers in journaled relation thereon, may be mounted on the front ends of said tracks in a convenient manner to obtain free traveling movement between the tracks so that substantial life can be built into the drawer suspension by providing bearing members of simple construction that may be made of hardened metal to increase the wearing qualities.

. Another feature of the invention resides in having the cross members of the intermediate tracks formed to provide spaced parallel flanges for cooperation with inwardly extending bottom anges on the intermediate tracks'in order to retain stop members rigidly engaged therebetween for arresting the movement of the intere .in the cabinet. The suspension'for the ysecond y drawer is shown withthe intermediate carrying means at its forward limit of vmovement and thel drawer track and Adrawer in the same position. The suspension ifor the third drawer from the top is illustrated in the forward positionvfor support- "ing the drawer with the rear enclin front of the V front wall of the casing. 1

Figure 2 shows the Ydrawer guide assembly for one side ofthe casing in perspective, kwith the parts in disassembled relationand portions ofthe cabinet and the drawer suspension broken away and shown in cross section,` 4 l Figure 3 is across Vsection bon a larger scale` taken on line 3--3l of AFigi.

I Figure 4 is a crosssectibnfon a larger scale folded around frame I as indicated Aat 2 inl Figs..

A1and2. r" y W The side Walls 3 of the casing carryan angular supporting strip 4 at the vrearedges, while rear wall 5 closes the rear end ci the cabinet. This provides a casing or cabinet construction having an open front which is divided into a plurality of drawer compartment openings by means of striker bars 6 extending transversely across the front end of the cabinet between the sideportions of front frame member I, as shown in Fig'. 1. .Y Q

The drawer,` suspension ,formingA the subject matter of the present'invention has acasing track 'I carried by the casing or cabinet, an intermediate carrying means generally indicated at 8 having an intermediate track. 9, and a drawer track\ I0. There are two sets'otracksl, v9 and Ii), used'in `providing the drawer suspensionfeach set .being mounted at one side ofthe drawer and cabinet, and each one being formed in an opposite manner relative to the other. The description of one set of these tracks forthedrawer suspension will be sufiicient to fully describe the invention. y

Each casing Vtrack 1 and intermediateI track 9 is formed of a sheet metal strip in a4 rather-similar manner. Casing track I andintermediate track 9 Veach has side sections II I2 respeclterrnediate carrying means 8.

tively, formed with laterally extending upper track sections I3 and I4 respectively, and laterally extending lower track sections I5 and I5 respectively. The sizes and dimensions of these portions of both the casing and intermediate tracks 1 and 9, are identical. Both tracks 1 and 9 are formed at the free edges of upper track sections I3 and I4, with upwardextending lips I1 extending `from the rear end to a point forwardly of the center portion thereof, but terminating in spaced relation from the front ends of the respective tracks. Upper track sections I3 and I4 each has the front end portion formed with a cut out section indicated at I8. In other respects the casing and intermediate tracks 1 and 9` respectively, have dierent features of construction.

Casing track 1 is formed to provide a downwardly extending iiange I8 on the free edge of lower track section I5 having the front end terminating rearwardly of the front end of the track section, as clearly illustrated in Figs. l and 2. `This is for the purpose of having lower track section I6 mounted -in the cabinet with its' lower -face arranged either in contact or close proximitywith `the upper ace'of'striker bar G. i Casing track I"'l is4 mounted on the casing or cabinet by having portions of side section II` adjacent' the front'and rear ends oifset outwardlytol provide securing tongues adapted to interenga'ge in openings formed in the side portions of front frame I and angle supporting strips 4in interlocking" relation. A retaining tongue 2| formed 'inthe forward end of side section II may be bent-laterally to interengage in an opening vin front frame I for retaining casing track 1 in interlocked relation on' the casing. This construction for mounting the casing track is illustrated in Patent No. 1.9345644-, dated November '1, 1933*.

A rear stop 22 s mounted onflange i9 Vand projects laterally and inwardly rom""the`rear end of flange I9, clearly shown in Fig. 2.

f Intermediate track 9 has a depending flange l23 on' the free'edge' of lowerv track section I6 extending throughout the l'ength'thereof.V Flange 23 terminates in fanin'wardly extending flange 24; Intermediate tracks 9 at'opposite sides of the cabinet or casing are connected by a 'pair of cross members 25 having the ends suitably `secured by spot welding or` the like to inwardlyextending flanges 2,4,` as illustrated in Fig.- 2. An offset flange 2B is formed on the frontedge of front cross member v25 and on the rear'edge of 'the rear cross member. vFlanges 26 are arranged in spaced parallel relation to nanges 2l for' receiving and clamping a cushioning and stop block`21 therebetween.; Stops 21 are clamped in position when cross'mer'nbers 25 areV assembled to flanges 24, these' stops being arranged at each side of the casing, those at `one side being shown'in'pFg. 2. Stops 21 may be formed of blocks of rubber or other'similar material for arresting the forward and rearward motion of in- They also tend to reducenoise when they are made of rubber or otherV similar material. Y

" AIntermediate carrying -means 8 is formed by cross members 25 in their assembled relation on a pair of spaced parallel intermediate tracks!! vto form a unitary structure. Stops 21 are positioned so as to engage laterally projecting stops 22 at the rearends `of the casing tracks 1 at opposite sides of the casing and striker bar S, at opposite limits of movementY as shown in Fig. l.

A bearing roller is rotatably mounted on stud 3| secured at the rear end of intermediate track 9 to the central portion of depending flange 23. Roller 30 is supported in outwardly spaced relation from flange 23 as shown in Fig. 4 for rolling' engagement on casing track 1 between upper and lower track sections I3 and I5 respectively. This provides a bearing support for the rear end of intermediate track 9.

Front bearing members 32 are formed of sheet metal bent into U shape to provide a pair of spaced parallel supporting flanges 33. Bearing members 32 are tempered or hardened after bending so they will be highly resistant to wear.

' One of these bearing members 32 is mounted with the central portion joining iianges 33 seated on lower track section I5 of casing track 1, one flange 33 having the outer surface engaging the inner surface of side section II. A bearing roller 34 is provided on opposite sides with journals 35 having the peripheriesengaged on the upper edges of supporting flanges 33 for travel back and forth between opposite ends of the bearing member in the movementof a drawer between the open and closed positions. Bearing member 32 may be suitably attached to casing track 1 by spot welding or the like. The' periphery of bearing roller 34 engages the under facev of lower track section I6 of intermediate track 9 as shown in Figs. l and 3, for supporting the front end of tracks 9 of intermediate carrying means l. Tongues 3S are formed in side Section II of casing track 1 to project inwardly over the upper edge of the adjacent supporting flange 33, as shown in Fig; 2. Tongues 35 are adapted to engage one of the journals 35 on bearing' roller 34 for limiting the travel of roller 34 on the bearing member.

Intermediate track S carries a bearing member 32 on the forward end of lower track section I6 as shown in Fig. 2, in the same manner as casing track 1. Bearing member 32 receives bearing roller 31 having journals 38 in rolling engagement with the upper edges of supporting flanges 33.v Projections 39 extending inwardly from side sections I 2 limit the travel of bearing roller 31 on bearing member 32 in the same manneras above described in connection with projections At the rear end portion'intermediate track 9 has lower track section Il termed with a pair ot transversely extending slots providing a strap section 4B oiset downwardly from the upper face of lower track section I3 to form a detent.

Drawertrack I0 is formed from a strip o! sheet metal of angular shape in cross section having a side section 4I and a track section 42 extending laterally from the upper edge of side section 4I and terminating in a depending lip 63. Drawer track I3 is spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to a side wall of drawer 44, indicated by dot and dash lines. Drawer track Il is assembled with track section 42 engaging the periphery of bearing roller 31 in the manner shown in Fig. 3, while the rear end carries a roller 45 rotatably mounted on stud 46 suitably secured to the rear end portion of vertical side section 4I as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Roller has bearing engagement betweenupper and lower track sections I4 and I6 of intermediate track 9 and is positioned so that when the drawer track is at its `rear limit of movement in the housed position of the drawer in the casing, the periphery will engage detentA 4B. A rear stop projection "fis formed by a laterally extending nange on the rear end of side 'section 4l for en" gagement with a cushion block 48 retained in position Vat the rear end of intermediate track 9 between upper and lower track sections I 4.and I5 by projections 39 and 5i) respectively. This. limits the rearward movement of the drawer anddrawer trackv I 6 in and relative to the intermediate carrying means. The forward 1nove. ment lof drawer track I3 relative to intermediate track 9 is limited by means. of stop projection 5| formed in side section 4I, as shown in Fig. 2, engaging stop block 52 mounted in therearend of bearing member 32 carried by intermediate track 9.

It will be noted that when the' intermediate carrying member is in assembled relation intermediate track 9 will be disposed above casing track I, and drawer track l will be `disposed above intermediate track 9, in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and fl. 4In this way, vthere is direct distribution of weight and leverage from the drawer track through bearing rollers 34 andy 3l respectively, to casing track l. Part of the weight and leverage is distributed through rollers 30 and 45 respectively. This distribution from drawer track lil to casing track 7 is also direct.

In the normal operation of this drawer `suspension, intermediate and drawer tracks S and lll respectively, are in substantially complete overlapping relation with each other and casing track l when the drawer is housed in the casing as shown by the drawer suspension for thetop drawer in Fig. l. In this position stop 2l carried by rear cross bar 25 will rest in substantial engagement with stop 22, and stop projection 44l will engage stop block 4S, while the periphery of bearing roller 45 engages detent 43. position it will be noted that bearing rollers 34 and 31 are at the rear limit of travel on bearing members 32.

In moving the drawer fromrthe housed posi` `or I respectively, depending upon' the center 0i"` gravity of the weight in the drawer and its posi tion with respect to bearing roller 3l'. v v

The' drawer track will move outwardly relative to intermediate carrying means 3' and track 9 to the position shown bythe third drawer from the top in Fig. 1 where stop vprojection 5| engages stop 52-and limits further relative movement of drawer track Eil on intermediate track 9. In this position of the parts of the drawer suspension in which the drawer track and the intermediate track are at the outer limits of movement, drawer 44 is supported by the drawer suspension outwardly in front of the cabinet with the rear wall of the drawer located in a position in front of the front wall of the casing. y

A detent 55 may be formed in the same manner as detent 40 in upper track section I3 of casing track 'l to receive 4the periphery'of bearing roller 3i) when intermediate track 9 is at its outer limit of movement. Detent 55 will nor- In this its outerlimit of .movement whilenthe drawer and drawer track Il) are moved from the outer operi position ofthe drawer toward the closed position in thecasing. When drawer track` I 0 moves inwardly to the position'shown by the second drawer` from the. top in` Fig. 1, stop projection 41`will engage stop block 48 and further movement of the drawer toward housed position in the casing will then-carry the intermediate carrying means with lthe drawer and drawer track untilthe drawer `reaches the closed position a'sshown by the topdrawer in Fig. 1'.

.In this way the .intermediate carrying.' means is constructed so that the cooperation obtained between the bearing rollers and thedetent gives the intermediate carrying means an intermittent' progression with and relative to the drawer track. This intermittent progression of the intermediate carrying means obtainsA a substantial improvement in the operation of the drawer sus-f pension because=it^ reduces wearto a substantial extent. This-is obtainedrby reason of the-fact that the leverage applied bythe weightofthe drawer to the casing track through rollersi30 and 34 is reduced to "a minimum during the travelI of the intermediate carrying means between the open and closed positions. The intermittent pro? gression of vthe intermediatev carrying means is reversed in its sequence in the inward movement of theA drawer from `that obtained when the drawer i's moved outwardly to the'open position."

pension wearing qualities far ineXcess of many well known'forms of drawer suspension. A cooperation is "obtainedr'between the track structures and bearing members 32 in supporting and retaining rollers 34 and 3l in assembled relation by reason of the stop projections Stand-39 that cooperate toengage the journals'of the` bearing rollers for limiting their travel on bearing members 32.`

A very eiiicient'stopj structure is obtained by 'assembling stop blocks 21 between flanges 26 and' 24 -in the assembly of cross members 25 with intermediate Vtracks `9 of the tracks are formed from strips of` sheet metal by simple folding operations and `by simple oisetting operations to provide the stops as above described. The intermediate carrying means is readily assembled on the casing tracks by inserting bearing rollersSll and theends of cross members 25 lmally retain the intermediate carrying means at through cut out'sections I3 above bearing roller 34 and bearing member 32. The drawer and drawer track is assembled on the intermediate carrying means by inserting It will be noted that each on said casing, a track to be mounted on said drawer, an intermediate track, said casing and intermediate tracks each formed from sheet metal strips to provide a side section and upper and lowertrack sections extending lorngitudiV nally of each track and of substantially dupli cate shape in cross section, a plurality of hardened metallic ,bearing members,V one mounted on the front end portion of the upper face of each lower track section of said casing and intermediate tracks respectively, each bearing member having a pair of spaced parallel supporting flanges extending upward from saidlower track section, a roller engaged between the flanges of each bearing member and provided with journals engaging andsupported on the upper edges of said supporting flanges, said in termediate track Vbeing mounted partially above said casing track with the lower face of said lower track section engaged with the periphery of the roller on the bearing member of said casing track for support thereon for free traveling movement,` another. roller between said casing and intermediate tracks for supporting the rear end of said intermediate track, said drawer track in itsA casing, comprising a track to be mounted .r

on said casing, a track to be mounted onrsaid drawer, an intermediate track, said casing and intermediate tracks each formed from sheet metal strips to provide` a side section and upper and lower track sections extending longitudinally of each track and of substantially duplicate shape in cross section, a plurality of hardened metallic bearing members,one mounted on the frontend portion of the upper face of each lower track section of said casing and intermediate tracks respectively, each bearingf'member having a pair ofspaced parallel supporting flanges extending upwardly from said lower track section, a roller engaged between the flanges of each bearing member and providing with journals engaging and supported on the upper edges of said supporting flanges, each of said side sections being formed with lateral projections adjacent opposite end portions ofusaid bearing members extending over the upper edges of the adjacentside sec section engaged with the periphery of the roller on the bearing member of said casing track for support thereon for free traveling movement, said drawer track being mounted partially above said intermediate track and supported thereon by the roller on the bearing member of said -Lntermediate track for free rolling movement 4rela-- tive to said intermediate track, and means for limiting the forward and rearward movement of said casing and intermediate tracks relative to each other and said `casing track.

3. A drawer suspension for mounting a drawer in its casing, comprising a track to be mounted on said casing, a track to be mounted `o n said drawer, an intermediate track, said casing and intermediate tracks each formed from sheet metal strips to provide a side section and upper and lower track sections extending longitudinally of each track and of substantially duplicate shape in cross section, a plurality of hardened metallic bearing members, one mounted on the front end portion of the upper face of each lower track section of said casing and intermediate tracks respectively, each bearing member having a pair of spaced parallel supporting anges extending upwardly from said lower track sections, a roller engaged between the anges of each bearing member and provided with journals engaging and supported on the upper edges of said supporting flanges, said intermediate track being mounted partially vabove said casing track with the lower face of the lower track section engaged with the peripheryof the roller on the bearing member of said casing track for support thereon for free 5 traveling movement, said drawer track being mounted partially above said intermediate track and supported thereon by engaging the roller on the bearing member of said intermediate track, a roller rotatably mounted on the rear end of said drawer track and engaged between the upper and lower track sections of said intermediate track for cooperation with the roller on the bearing member of said intermediate track to provide free traveling movement of said drawer track on said intermediate track, said lower track section of said intermediate track being formed adjacent to the rear end thereof with an offset section forming a detent for receiving the periphery of Vthe `roller on the rear end portion of said drawer track, said detent and roller on said drawer track cooperating to cause said intermediate track Ito move with said drawer track from the housed position oi said tracks in said casing with said drawer when said drawer is moved outwardly from said casing, stop means for limiting the outward movement,k of said intermediate track on said casing track operable to cause the roller on said drawer track to disengage fromrsaid detent for relative movement of saidl drawer track outwardly on said intermediate track into a position where said drawer is supported in front of said casing.

Y 4. A drawer suspension for mounting a drawer in its casing, comprising a track to be mounted on the casing, a track to be mounted on the drawer, intermediate carrying means, bearings supporting said drawer track for free movement on said intermediate carrying means and said intermediate carrying means for free movement on said casing track, said intermediate carrying means comprising a pair of spaced parallel tracks at opposite sides of said drawer for cooperation with casing and drawer tracks on opposite sides of' said drawer, said intermediate tracks at the opposite sides of said drawer `being each formed of sheet metal having the lower edge portions extended inwardly toward each other in aligned relation forming bottom anges, a pair of cross members mounted in spaced parallel relation below said intermediate tracks and having the opposite end portions thereof secured to said inwardly extending bottom flanges, said intermed-iate tracks and cross members constituting a carriage, each of said cross members being formed of sheet metal and having a marginal ange `offset into spaced Aparallel relation relative to the inwardly extending anges on said intermediate tracks, and stop members mounted between the offset anges of said cross members and the inwardly extending :flanges of said intermediate tracks and retained in assembled relation on said carriage by said ilanges for limiting the movement of said intermediate carrying means in both directions relative to said casing tracks, and means for limiting the relative movement of said drawer tracks in both directions on said intermediate carrying means, whereby a drawer supported by said drawer tracks may be moved into a housed position in said cabinet and into an outwardly projecting position in front of said cabinet.

5. A drawer suspension for mounting a drawer in its casing, comprising a track to be mounted on the casing, a track to be mounted on said drawer, an intermediate track, said casing and intermediate tracks each formed. from sheet metal strips to provide a side section and upper and lower track sections extending longitudinally of each track section, of substantially duplicate shape in cross section and having the front end of the upper track section of each formed with a cut-out section forming a top opening, a plurality of hardenedI metallic bearing members, one mounted on the front end portion of the upper face of each lower track section of said casi-ng and intermediate tracks respectively, and having the rear end terminating forwardly of the front end of the upper track section formed by said cut-out section, a roller mounted on the top portion of each bearing member for travel thereon, said intermediate track being mounted partially above said casing track with the lower face of the lower track section engaged with the periphery of the roller of the bearing member on said casing track for support thereon for free traveling movement, said drawer track being mounted partially above said intermediate track and supported thereon by engaging the roller on the bearing member on said intermediate track, a roller rotatably mounted` on the rear end of said drawer track and engaged between the upper and lower track sections of said intermediate track for cooperation with the roller on the bearing member of said intermediate track to provide free traveling movement of the drawer track on said intermediate track, a stop on said drawer track forwardly of the roller on the rear end thereof for engaging the rear end of the bearing member on the intermediate track for limiting forward movement of the drawer track on the intermediate track, a stop for limiting rearward movement of said drawer track on said intermediate track, said stops normally retaining said drawer track assembled on said intermediate track against detachment in endwise movement thereof, Said first-mentioned stop and the roller on the rear end of said drawer track being movf mally retaining said tracks against detachment in endwise movement thereof, said intermediate track beingl disengaged and engaged on said casing track by disengaging said stop means and moving the roller on the rear end of A'said intermediate track ythrough the top opening in said casing track. Y

6. A drawer suspension for mounting a drawer in its casing, comprising a track to be mounted on said-'casing a track to be mounted on said drawer, an intermediate track, said casing and intermediate tracks each formed from sheet metal strips to provide a side section and trackl sections extending longitudinally of each side section, a plurality of hardened metallic bearing members, one mounted on the front end portion of the upper face of a track section of said casing and intermediate tracks respectively, a roller supported for longitudinal movement on each bearing member, each of said side sections being Y formed with lateral projections adjacent opposite end portions of said bearing members with portions lying in the path of movement of the rollers on said bearing members for engaging and limiting the longitudinal travel of said rollers on said bearing members, said intermediate track being mounted with the lower face of a track section engaged with the periphery of the roller on the bearing member of said casing track for support thereon for free traveling movement, said drawer track being supported by the roller on the bearing member of said intermediate track for free rolling movement relative to said intermediate track, and stops for limiting forward and rearward travel of said drawer and intermediate tracks relative to each other and said Y casing track.

CARL F. WOLTERS. NIELS YDE ANDERSEN. 

